Housing prices unlikely to come down due to note ban: CREDAI

Realtors’ body CREDAI on Saturday said there is no further scope
for correction in housing prices in the primary market post demonetisation as
rates are already ruling at the lowest level.

Credai, however, said that the real estate industry fully
and unequivocally supports the decision of the government to demonetise
currency notes of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 in the national endeavour to eliminate
black money, corruption, fake currency and terror financing.

The association in a statement said that the primary market
is funded by banks and financial institutions which are all regulated entities.
As such, cash component is not an integral element of the primary market.

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Therefore, Credai denies adverse impact on the primary real
estate market arising out of demonetisation. In fact, the primary segment is
expected to gain at a rate of 15 per cent YoY, the statement said.

The government’s resolve to eliminate black money and
corruption is in the interest of the common man as well as business and
industry, it said.

Real estate industry contributes 7 per cent of country’s GDP
and is the second biggest employer after agriculture.

Given the scale and size of the industry, it is imperative
that Credai articulates the impact of demonetisation on the industry and brings
it to the knowledge of the general public, it said.

In the aftermath of demonetisation move, banks are going to
have additional funds upward of Rs 10 trillion.

Hence, a fall in interest rates up to 200 basis points is
expected.

An early sign is seen with country’s largest lender State
Bank of India cutting its deposit rates by 1.75 per cent.

According to Credai, we see home loan rates coming down from
the present level of 9.25 per cent to less than 7 per cent in less than one
year from now. This would bring down the EMI for the ultimate consumers.

Credai expects the mop up of black money to also lead to
higher tax collection and a lower rate of personal and corporate income tax
from the next financial year onwards. In other words, the demonetisation would
put more money into the pocket of home purchasers through lower tax burden and
incentives for home ownership.

The tendency towards lower rate of interest is also going to
be strengthened by a low rate of inflation.

Credai, comprising 11,500 real estate developers spread over
166 cities in 23 states in the country, is the apex body for private real
estate developers in the country.

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